AKTUÁLIS HÍREK

Cyprus: Foreign firms keen to invest more in the long term

25/02/2014

FOREIGN investors are willing to stay and probably invest more in the Cypriot market, provided that the state provides proper incentives and maintains political and economic stability, the head of the island’s investment agency said yesterday.

Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency head Christodoulos Angastiniotis referred to a study conducted for the agency by the University of Nicosia that found that despite the Eurogroup events and the shakeup of the economy, investor interest hasn’t faded but is showing signs of recovery instead.

“This information is coming exactly from the people who are directly interested and affected. These people, despite the problems, continue to trust the Cypriot economy. This report, along with the troika reviews the credit rating upgrade by Standard and Poor’s should convince the most distrustful among us that the economy is turning a page,” he said, adding that there still things to be done.

Presenting the study, CIPA general manager Charis Papacharalambous said that about 40 per cent of those surveyed are thinking of expanding their business within the next three to five years, 72 per cent were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the quality of life in Cyprus and nearly 60 per cent said that their investment in Cyprus yielded a better result than expected.

Around 70 per cent of those taking part in the study said that the investment climate in Cyprus was adequate to good.Asked what would improve the Cypriot market, the foreign executives said that the state should provide greater financial stability, increase support to investors through incentives and by reducing bureaucracy, modernise government services and introduce transparency.

When it comes to the negative factors, the survey found that after the Eurogroup decision in March, Cyprus was suffering from financial instability and the banking sector was shaken.

“If Cyprus continues to work in an organised and methodical manner, based on a strategic plan, all the ills of our economy will be corrected and we will return to a path of growth,” remarked Angastiniotis.

The survey was based on questionnaires received from 107 businesses and investors of whom 17 responded through personal interviews.